December 8, 2024
Contact: Dr. Suzie Xuyen Dong | +1 (346) 704-4744
Viet Tan Announces 2024 Le Dinh Luong Human Rights Award
Viet Tan is honored to present the 2024 Le Dinh Luong Human Rights Award to evangelist Y Krec Bya, a dedicated advocate for religious freedom and justice for Vietnam’s ethnic minorities for over two decades. The theme for this year’s award is Justice For The People, Equality For All Vietnamese.
Honoring the Spirit of Resilience
Established in 2018, the Le Dinh Luong Human Rights Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the advancement of human rights and national sovereignty in Vietnam. The award is named after activist Le Dinh Luong, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the communist regime for his efforts to protect the rights and dignity of the Vietnamese people.
Evangelist Y Krec Bya: A Symbol of Unwavering Resistance
A member of the Ede ethnic group and a leader in the Evangelical Church of Christ of the Central Highlands, Y Krec Bya has endured years of persecution, including physical assaults, harassment, and imprisonment. He has been arbitrarily detained multiple times by the authorities. First convicted in 2004 and sentenced to eight years in prison, he was recently sentenced to 13 years in prison in March 2024. Despite these hardships, he has remained steadfast in his fight for justice and religious freedom.
Y Krec Bya has also worked to raise international awareness about human rights violations in Vietnam. He has guided church members in documenting abuses and submitting reports to foreign embassies, the United Nations and human rights organizations, highlighting the dire state of religious freedom in Vietnam.
Award Ceremony in Toronto
The 2024 Le Dinh Luong Human Rights Award ceremony will be held on December 14, 2024, in Toronto, Canada.
This year’s distinguished selection committee includes:
- The Honourable Judy Sgro – Member of Parliament of Canada
- Tran Trung Dao – Writer
- Chris MacLeod – Founding Partner of the law firm Cambridge LLP
- Dang Dinh Manh – Human rights lawyer
- Nguyen Ha Quyen – President of the Free Vietnamese Canadian Community of Ottawa
- Abbey Le – President of the Vietnamese Community in the Greater Toronto Area
The award celebrates Evangelist Y Krec Bya’s unwavering pursuit of human rights and draws international attention to the critical issue of freedom of religion in Vietnam.
### END ###
Press release in pdf.